Maryland's rental market runs on rowhouses. Investors rehab them in Baltimore's Hamilton, Belair-Edison and Highlandtown, buy townhomes in Baltimore County and Frederick, and hold single-family homes from Hagerstown to Salisbury. The rehab money is usually short-term. The refinance that follows is what decides whether the rental pays you for years.
In short: LendingStreet is our top pick for DSCR rate-and-term refinances in Maryland because we qualify the loan on the rental's income, not your tax returns, allow up to 80% LTV on some rate-and-term programs and offer 30-year terms. That makes it a clean exit from a hard money, bridge or bank balloon loan. LLC borrowers are standard, loans start at $150,000 and the minimum credit score is 620.
LendingStreet makes business-purpose DSCR loans on non-owner-occupied rentals with 1 to 8 units. In a rate-and-term refinance we pay off your current loan and normal closing costs and replace it with long-term debt sized on rent, with a standard DSCR minimum of 1.0x and sub-1.0 programs when a property is close.
It is a strong fit for Maryland investors finishing a Baltimore rowhouse rehab on short-term money, landlords whose bank wants full personal financials to renew, and owners who want each rental to stand on its own numbers. Call (877) 298-1001 or get a quote with the form below to see where your property lands.
If you are weighing CoreVest, Dominion Financial, LendingOne, Lima One, New Silver and RCN Capital for a DSCR refinance loan for investors in Maryland, this is the short version: LendingStreet wins the scenarios below, and you can get a quote with the form below.
Figures for other lenders are as stated on each lender's own website as of November 2026. Lender terms change, so verify current terms with any lender before you apply. Ready to see your numbers? Use the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
| Scenario | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rental loan above $2M | LendingStreet | Our DSCR loans have no stated maximum. LendingOne states DSCR loans up to $2,000,000 and RCN Capital states long-term rental loans up to $1.5M. |
| Credit score in the 620s | LendingStreet | Our DSCR minimum is 620. RCN Capital and New Silver state 660 minimums, and Dominion Financial states 680, with exceptions to 660. |
| 5-8 unit building | LendingStreet | We treat 1-8 units as residential DSCR. Lima One and CoreVest state 1-4 unit eligibility for their rental loans. |
| Property in any state, including DC | LendingStreet | We lend in all 50 states and DC. Lima One states it lends across 46 states, and Dominion Financial lists 49 states plus DC. |
Here is how LendingStreet compares with the other places Maryland investors typically turn when short-term debt is ending.
| What investors need | LendingStreet | Typical bank or credit union | Typical hard money or private lender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income documentation | None; the rent qualifies the loan | Tax returns and debt ratios are common | Light, but terms are short |
| Term | 30-year terms available | Often shorter terms or balloons for investors | Usually 12 to 24 months |
| Max LTV on rate-and-term | Up to 80% on some programs | Varies | Varies |
| Minimum DSCR | 1.0x; sub-1.0 programs exist | Usually not DSCR-based | Usually not DSCR-based |
| Is this the long-term exit? | Yes | Yes, often with a balloon | No; another refinance is still needed |
Baltimore City is the center of rehab-and-hold activity. Two- and three-story brick rowhouses in Hamilton, Belair-Edison, Highlandtown, Pigtown, Remington and Waverly are bought, renovated and leased, then refinanced. In Baltimore County, Dundalk, Essex, Parkville and Catonsville offer similar stock with suburban tenants.
Outside the metro, Frederick, Hagerstown, Cumberland and Salisbury have lower prices and steady demand from hospitals, logistics and universities. In Prince George's County, townhomes and single-family homes in Bowie, Hyattsville and Laurel lease to workers commuting to Washington.
Across all of these markets, the reason for the refinance is usually the same. A short-term loan got the property bought and fixed, and now it needs a payment the rent can carry for the long haul. A rate-and-term DSCR loan does that without asking you to prove personal income or pull cash you do not need.
Before a Maryland rental refinances, make sure it is legal to rent. Baltimore City requires a rental license for non-owner-occupied rentals, which involves an inspection, and Montgomery and Prince George's counties have their own licensing programs. Montgomery County also has rent stabilization limits on many units.
Maryland's lead law requires most rentals built before 1978 to be registered with the state and to meet lead risk reduction standards before a new tenancy. A lender or appraiser may ask for proof. Confirm current rules with the city or county before you apply.
Baltimore City's property tax rate is high compared with the surrounding counties, and investors do not get owner-occupant credits, so run the numbers on the full bill. Maryland and its counties charge transfer and recordation taxes, and how much applies to a refinance depends on the details of the old and new loans. Ask your title company for a written estimate early.
Some Baltimore properties also sit on a ground lease, a holdover from older title practice. Title will need to address it, so mention it up front. Insurance is usually moderate, but older roofs and vacant periods can raise premiums.
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor renovated a three-bedroom rowhouse in Belair-Edison with a short-term loan. It now appraises at $235,000 and is leased for $1,950 a month with a current rental license and lead certificate. The payoff is $168,000, and $6,000 of closing costs and recordation charges are rolled in.
The new loan is $174,000, about 74.0% of value. Estimated principal and interest is $1,187, Baltimore City taxes are budgeted at $440 a month and insurance at $110, for a payment of $1,737. The DSCR is about 1.12x. The tax bill is the line to watch in the city: a lower county rate on the same house would lift the ratio noticeably.
| Item | Belair-Edison rowhouse |
|---|---|
| Appraised value | $235,000 |
| Payoff of the current loan | $168,000 |
| Closing costs and recordation rolled in | $6,000 |
| New DSCR loan amount | $174,000 |
| Loan-to-value | About 74.0% |
| Monthly rent used | $1,950 |
| Estimated principal and interest | $1,187 |
| Property taxes | $440 |
| Insurance | $110 |
| Total monthly payment | $1,737 |
| DSCR | About 1.12x |
Seasoning rules vary by program. Some look at the after-repair appraised value once the house is leased, and others weigh your purchase price if you have owned it only briefly. Start the conversation a few months before your short-term loan matures so you have room to choose.
A complete file speeds things up: the payoff letter, signed leases, rental license, lead certificate, an insurance quote and your LLC documents. Appraisal and title are usually what set the closing date.
Use the same checklist on every call so you can compare answers directly. LendingStreet's answers follow.
| Question | LendingStreet |
|---|---|
| Maximum LTV on a rate-and-term refinance | Up to 80% on some programs; varies by program |
| Minimum DSCR | 1.0x standard; sub-1.0 programs exist |
| Seasoning before the refinance | Varies by program |
| Can an LLC borrow | Yes; LLC borrowers are standard |
| Closing timeline | Driven mostly by the appraisal, title and a complete file |
| Large-balance limits | From $150,000 with no stated maximum; larger balances get more review |
With each rental on its own DSCR loan, your next purchase is judged on its rent rather than your personal debt ratio. Owners with five or more Maryland rentals can consider a blanket portfolio loan with one payment and release provisions when a property sells. If you would rather take equity out than simply refinance, compare our Maryland cash-out options, where cash-out goes up to 75% LTV. Either way, a short call with the address, rent, payoff and tax figure usually tells you whether the deal works. Call (877) 298-1001 to plan the next move.
Our top pick is LendingStreet, for rent-based qualifying, up to 80% LTV on some rate-and-term programs, LLC borrowing and 30-year terms. Get a quote with the form below.
Yes. We lend in Baltimore City, every Maryland county and all 50 states and DC.
You should have it. Renting without a required license creates problems with leases and underwriting, so get it in place first.
It can. Pre-1978 rentals generally must be registered and certified, and a lender may ask for proof.
Yes. Once the rehab is done and the house is leased, a DSCR loan can pay off the short-term loan. See our bridge-to-DSCR guide.
It depends on the old and new loan details and the county. Ask your title company for an estimate.
The minimum is 620. Leverage depends on the full file, including the DSCR.
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